Composite puzzle



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I. H. G, HANSON.

COMPOSITE PUZZLE. I

Patented June 13, 1893.

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(No Model.) 2 sham-sneer 2. H. C. HAN$ON.

v GOMPO$ITE PUZZLE. No. 499,383. Patented June 13, 1893.

: yi "zzyi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANS C. HANSON, OF HOBART, INDIANA.

COMPOSITE PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,383, dated June 13, 1893.

Application filed February 21, 1893. Serial No. 463,184. (No model.)-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANS C. HANSON, of Hobart, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Globe Puzzles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to toy puzzles composed of numerous sections or parts which are to be assembled in a particular manner, in order to complete the puzzle, and which are also to be separated in a particular way, in order to efiect the demolition of the puzzle.

The object of my invention is to produce a puzzle of this type which shall be so constructed as to he apparently easy to put together and to take apart, but the actual assemblage and separation of the parts of which shall involve a pleasing amount of perplexity.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement as hereinafter described and claimed.

The more precise structural nature of my invention will be better understood when described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 comprises perspective views of the two divided hemispherical sections of a puzzle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 comprises perspective views of the two sector plate sections of the puzzle. Fig. 3 comprises perspective views of the two cross-bar sections of the puzzle. Fig. at is a detached perspective view of the locking-key of the puzzle. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the cross-bar sections and two of the two sectorplate sections in proper relative position; illustrating what may be termed the first position in putting the parts of the puzzle together. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the two sector-plate sections, and the two cross-bar sections in proper relative position; illustrating what may be termed the second position in putting the parts of the puzzle together. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the two sectorplate sections, the two cross-bar sections and one of the divided hemispherical sections in proper relative position; illustrating what may be termed the third position in putting the parts of the puzzle together. Fig. 8 is a sideelevation of the parts of the puzzle, excepting the locking key, in proper relative position. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the puzzle completed or solved.

In the said drawings A and A designate the two larger sections of the puzzle which may be termed the divided hemispherical sections thereof; each of said sections being composed of two members a and a of approximately sector-shape and placed side by side at some distance from each other, and also connected together by a cross-bar or bridge a of narrow form. The outer surfaces of the two members at a are of convex form and the two proximate or adjacent sides of said members are of flat form and extend parallel with each other, both longitudinally and transversely, while the two inner sides of said members are also of flat form and extend in the same plane, both longitudinally and transversely. At the point ofjuncture of the inner side and the transverse or proximate side of each member a a is formed a rabbet a rectangular or L;shaped in cross-section; the positions of these rabbets being such that when the two sections A and A are placed in proper position, with their inner sides in contact, the four rabbets shall form a channel which is rectangular in cross-section and which extends axially entirely through the body of the puzzle. The cross-bars or bridges a are each located slightly to one side of the middle of the s'ection,measuring from end to end of the members a a, so that if the sections are not placed together with their proper ends contiguous, the key of the puzzle will not be able to seat itself, as hereinafter explained.

B and B designate two other sections of the puzzle which may be termed the two sector-plate sections thereof; these sections being of flat form and also of approximately sector-shape; the outer margins of these sections being of approximately-sector-shape and the inner margin of the section B being perfectly straight throughout from end to end of said section. The section B is of less width,

TOO

from the middle of its inner margin to the cess b which opens at the outer margin of said section. The section B is also formed midway of its length with a recess 1) similar in form to the recess 1) of the section B, and also opening at the outer margin of the section; this recess 1) differing from the recess 1), however, in being of greater length than said recess 1), measuring from the inner margins of said recesses to their points of opening at the outer margins of the sections. The section B is also formed with a recess b located midway of the length of the section, and opening at the inner margin of the section, for a purposeto be presently explained.

O and O designate two other sections of the puzzle which may be termed the crossbar sections thereof; each of said sections being of approximately oblong rectangular form, excepting for a lateral offset 0 at one end of each section, and a second lateral 01fset 0' at the opposite end of said section, and a segmentalcurvature of each end of the section, as shown; a recess 0 of approximately U-shape intervening between said offsets. The two enlargements c and c protrude at the same side of the section, and the oifset c is of somewhat greater length than the offset 0, to add to the perplexity of manipulating the puzzle, as hereinafter explained, while the recess 0 extends equidistant from the middle of the section.

D designates the locking-key of the puzzle, this key being practically of oblong rectangular form, excepting that its ends are marginally curved segmentally; the key being of such length that, when the key is in proper position, its ends shall be flush with the outer surface of the body of the puzzle.

The puzzle, when its parts or sections are properly assembled, is of spherical form, and the parts of which the puzzle is composed are desirably formed of wood, each preferablycut out of a single piece. Obviously, however, the parts may be of any other suitable material and may be formed into their required shapes either by cutting, sawing, molding, or'otherwise, as desired.

' When the parts of the puzzle are separated each from the other,their forms are such as to give but little if any intimation of their required ultimate relative positions, and consequently a person attempting to properly group or assemble the parts will at the start perform a most ludicrous series of erroneous assemblages of the parts. Ultimately, however, the proper method of grouping the parts will be perceived to be as follows: One of the crossbar sections 0 or 0, let it be assumed to be the section 0, although either may be selected first, is laid upon a flat surface, such as a table top, so that the recess 0 and the offsets c 0 shall be presented uppermost. The sectorplate sections B and B are next laid upon the cross-bar section 0 so that the recess b of the section B shall receive the longer offset 0 of the cross-bar section, and so also that the recess b of the section B shall receive the shorter offset 0 of said, section 0; these relative positions of the parts being shown in Fig. 5. The companion cross-bar section 0 is next placed in position directly over the cross-bar section 0 and so that the ofi'sets c and c of said section 0 shall respectively enter the recesses Z) and b of the sector-plate sections B and B; the offsets of the section 0 being presented downward, and this position of the parts being shown in Fig. 6. Either of the divided hemispherical sections A or A is now placed in position; the section A being chosen first, for the purposes of this description, and the cross-bar or bridge a of said section being inserted between either of the two adjacent ends of the sector-plate sections B B. It will be remembered that the bridge a is slightly away from the middle of the divided hemispherical section, and consequently the side of the bridge which is nearer to the two ends of the section members a and a must be presented toward the inner margin of the sector-plate section B which contains the recess b so that, after the bridge a has reached the cross-bar sections 0 C the divided hemispherical section A can be moved from its initial position, shown in broken lines in Fig. 7, laterally to the true position shown in solid linesin said figure. The companion section A is now placed in position in a similar manner to that just described; the bridge a of said companion section being inserted between the two opposite adjacent ends of the section-plate sections, and the same precaution as to the nearer side of the bridge a beingobserved, and the section being also finally moved laterally from the initial position, shown in broken lines in Fig. 8 to the true position shown in solid lines in said figure, the outer straight edges of the cross-bar sections 0 C, entering the rabbets a and said cross-bar sections filling the channel formed by said rabbets. The assemblage is completed by inserting the key D between the sections B and B until the ends of the key come flush with the surface of the composite spherical body of the puzzle. When this key has been properly inserted it engages the inner side of the cross-bars or bridges a and thus locks the divided hemispherical sections against inward lateral movement; consequently looking all parts of the puzzle in their proper relative positions. It is to be observed that the key D should fit quite tightly so as to preclude possibility of the key accidentally dropping out, and also that if the precaution mentioned with reference to inserting the cross-bars a so that their nearer sides are toward the recess 17*, be not observed, the key can not be placed in position because either one or both of the cross-bars or bridge pieces a will extend across the channel between said sections B and B.

To separate the parts of the puzzleitis necessary first to withdraw the key D and to move first one divided hemisperical section and then the other laterally, so as to move their bridges at out of the recess b and thus enable the bridges to be drawn outward from between the sector-plate sections; the sectorplate sections and the cross-bar sections then readily dropping apart from each other.

I claim as my invention:

1. A composite puzzle consisting of a plurality of divided sections each of approximately hemispherical form and each having its two portions connected by a cross-piece, a plurality of fiat sections of approximately sector-shape and provided with inner and outer marginally open recesses, a plurality of cross -bar sections having lateral ofisets to enter said outer marginal recesses, and a key entering an axial channel in the body of the puzzle, substantially as set forth.

2. A composite puzzle consisting of a plurality of divided sections each of approximately divided hemisherical form and having its two portions connected by a oross-bar-located nearer one end of the divided sections than the other end, a plurality of fiat sections of approximately sector-shape and both provided with outer marginal recesses of different lengths, and one provided also with an inner marginal section, a plurality of cross bar sections having lateral offsets of different lengths to enter the outer marginal recesses, and a key to extend through the body of the puzzle, between the sector-plate section and also to enter the inner marginal recess of the sector-shaped section, substantially as set forth. I

3. A composite puzzle consisting of a plurality of divided approximately hemispherical sections each provided with a cross-bar connecting the two members of the section, and also with rabbets formed in the innermost margins of the members, a plurality of flat approximately sector-shaped sections having outer marginal recesses and one having an inner marginal recess, a plurality of cross-bar sections each having lateralolfsets of different lengths to enter the outer marginal recesses, and a locking-key to enter the inner marginal recess and to also extend between the sectorplate sections, substantially as set forth.

4. A composite puzzle consisting of a plurality of divided approximately hemispherical sections each having its two members sepa-' rated by a divided longitudinal space and also connected by a cross-bar, a plurality of flat sector-shaped sections having outer marginal recesses of different lengths and one having an inner marginal recess, and formed to enter the spaces between the members of thehemispherical sections, a plurality of cross-bar sections having offsets of different len ghts to enter the outer marginal recesses, and a lockingkey to enter the inner recess and also extend axially through the body of the puzzle, substantially as set forth.

5. A composite puzzle consisting of a plurality of divided sections each of approximately hemispherical form having inner marginal rabbets and provided with a cross-bar connecting the two portions of the divided section and also located nearer one end of the and also to enter the inner marginal recess for locking the parts, the cross-bar sections extending through an axial channel formed by the marginal rabbets of the divided hemispherical sections, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HANS O. HANSON. Witnesses:

HENRY W. CARTER, G. W. HIGGINS, Jr. 

